Priming mixture.



WILLIAM H. BUELL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR -TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS (20., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

PRIMING MIXTURE.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28,1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVILLI M H. BUELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Priming Mixtures; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear; and exact description of the same. v

My invention relates'to an improvement in that class of priming mixtures which are known as non-fulminate or non-mercuric mixtures for the reason that they are compounded without the use of fulminate of" mercury which is the characteristic ingredient of all fulmlnate mixtures, the object of my present invention being to produce a non-fulminate mixture of superior character in so far as it insures the rapid and even ignition of the entire priming mass and the production of a hot and uniform flame for the immediate and uniform ignition of the powder so that the same will be entirely ignited and consumed at the breech end of the barrel rather-than progressively throughout. the barrel as is often the case.

(if lead sulfocyanid, 50%

lVith these ends in view my invention conin anon-fulminate mixture composed and compounded as hereinafter described.

In carrying out my invention, 1 mix together about 20% of antin'iony sulfid, of potassium chlorate, and 5% of trinitrotoluol. These several ingredients are preferably employed in substantially the proportions ind fated, but the proportions may be varied as may be found necessary to secure the best results,

and to take into account the ordinary trade variations in the strength of the ingredients.

Furthermore variations in thecharactcr of the powders with which my improved primmg mixture semployed'may require some corresponding adjustment of the mixture in order to secure the best results. l. do not, therefore, limit m'yselfto the exact proport ons given for the an oral ingredients.

The compounding of the above ingredients produce a line. grayish-brown powder which by prella'enrc is introduced dry into the primer cups in which it is seated by heavy pressure which results in the reduction of thepowder into the form of a thin hard cake 1n the bottom of the cup. This cake is preferably sealed in place by the application to it of a thin film of collodion which extends over it and up into the side walls of the cup, enough of the collodion entering the cake to bind it thereto. An anvil of any approved construction is then introduced into the primer-cup in' the ordinary manner as indicated in my prior Patent No. 962,888 of June 28, 1910.

In the use of my improved primer mixture in rim-fire ammunition, it is preferably wet "with a suitable moistening fluidand driven by centrifugal force into the outwardly projecting annular hollow rim of the cartridge shcll. By preference it is then covered with collodion applied so as to cover it and extend up upon the side wallsof the shell as shown in my prior Patent No. 986,163 of August 2, 1910.

My improved non-fulminate priming mixture is so homogeneous in its character and so easy of ignition that the whole mass igduces a hot and uniform flame leaving the minimum of residue. The flame produced. by it penetrates the powder and so diffuses itself therein that the whole IUEISS'OI body thereof is simultaneously ignited and burned at the breech end of the gun whereby the effect of'the slow or progressive burning of' the powder upon the barrel and upon the accuracy and ellicicncy of the ammunition is avoided. My improved non fuhninate priming mixture moreover, contains nothing -to-amalgamate' with the brass of primers and cartridge shells, and therefore avoids the very serious objection attached to the use of all priming mixtures containing mer cury in any form. r

I do not limit myself, as already stated, to

the exact proportions herein-given, and further wish it understood that some of the elements may be replaced by their chemical equivalents in such mixtures. Thus, i may see fit to employ sul'lfoeyanid of other metals besides lead, such as the sul'lbryauid of copper. 1*urtheru'1ore, instead of employing nites practically at the same time and -pro-- J potassium chlorate solely as an oxidizing agent, I may employ other ()XldlZlng agents such as barlum peroxld.

i In testimony whereof, I have signed this epeoification in the presence of two subscrib- 1n g Witnesses. I claim WILLIAM H. BUELL. 5 A non-fulminate priming mixture eom- Witnesses: V

posed of antimony sulfid, lead sulfocyanid, I CLARA L. WEED,

potassium chlorateand trinitrotoluol. GEORGE D. SEYMOUR- 

